From November 15 to 20, 2012, more than 1,900 school children and five teachers at 15 schools in Sri Lanka were treated for symptoms including skin rashes, vomiting, vertigo, and coughing. The outbreak originated at a girls' school in Gampola, where 1,100 students were admitted to the hospital, leading to the closure of the school for three days. The incident was attributed to mass hysteria, reflecting the vulnerability of school communities to psychogenic illness.

The Sri Lanka school hysteria epidemic has been cited in psychological and sociological studies as an example of mass psychogenic illness in a school setting. The event has inspired writers to explore the dynamics of fear and the power of suggestion among young people, and it has been referenced in works that examine the psychology of groups and the role of stress in triggering collective behavior. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of public health communication in managing outbreaks of mass hysteria.